Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Swedish agency renews offer of loan for metro bus project

By B.S. Ramesh

BANGALORE Oct. 9. Sweden has renewed its offer to finance the metro bus project, and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has drawn up a revised proposal and submitted it to the Government.

Sources in the BMTC told The Hindu on Wednesday that the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (SIDA) had once again offered to finance the metro bus project if the BMTC kept to the original plan.

In May 2002, SIDA agreed to provide $ 7 million as a soft loan at a highly concessional rate. It later withdrew the offer on the grounds that the BMTC had deviated from the original plan, and that it had failed to comply with some of the terms.

The metro bus project was planned by the BMTC to provide high-quality commuter services. It was put on the backburner for almost a year, as neither the State Government nor the BMTC was able to raise the funds needed.

Now, with SIDA coming forward to finance the project, the BMTC has decided to accept its terms and conditions. It has drawn up a revised proposal and sent it to the Government for approval. The revised proposal calls for dedicated bus lanes and the introduction of high-tech and high-quality buses.

The BMTC plans to run a bus service between Konankunte and Hebbal on an experimental basis. The bus will cover the distance via South End Circle, Yediyur Circle, 4th Main, J.C. Road, District Office Road, K.R. Circle, Vidhana Soudha, High Grounds, Mount Carmel, and Sankey Road. The pilot project is likely to implemented after getting the Government's approval.

According to sources in the BMTC, the revised project may be approved expeditiously. The BMTC may opt for the introduction of Volvo buses on an experimental basis, they say. The BMTC may ask SIDA to provide grants, as it is not keen on seeking credit at a concessional rate.

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